Collapsible receptacle and blank therefor or the like



1964 M. T. FARQUHAR 3,144,977

COLLAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE AND BLANK THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1964 FARQUHAR 3,144,977

COLLAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE AND BLANK THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MELVILLE IFARQUHAR BY flaw HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,144,977 CQLLAPSHBLE EECEFTACLE AND BLANK THEREFGR GR THE LIKE Melviile 'I. Farquhar, lion Air, 1a., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 173,478 19 tClaims. (El. 229--16) This invention relates to improved collapsible receptacles and to improved blanks for making such receptacles or the like.

In particular, the receptacle of this invention is adapted to be disposed in a flat collapsed condition and be packaged together with a bundle of folded napkins or the like by a transparent overwrap so that the ultimate consumer cannot only view the napkins, but also the attractive receptacle of this invention which can be subsequently utilized by the ultimate consumer as a dispenser for the napkins by being expanded and locked in article-carrying position and receiving the napkins in the open end thereof.

The receptacle of this invention is so constructed and arranged that the same is readily adaptable to rest evenly on the dining table as an attractive napkin dispenser and hold the napkins above the top of the table or the like a sufiicient distance so that the unused napkins will not be damaged should a glass of liquid and the like he accidently spilled on the table.

Thus, not only does the receptacle of this invention provide an attractive dispenser for the napkins, but also the receptacle provides means for readily storing the napkins when the same are not in use.

Therefore, the napkin dispenser of this invention can be utilized over and over again, or when subsequentiy emptied, can be utilized for any desired purpose, such as a holder for artificial flowers, a planter for small potted plants and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible receptacle or the like having one or more of the novel features of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved blank for forming such a receptacle or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings form ing a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the improved collapsible receptacles of this invention disposed in its article-carrying position and receiving a plurality of folded napkins in the opened end thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the napkins illustrated in phantom.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 33 thereof with the napkins illustrated in phantom.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the receptacle of FIGURE 1 in its partially collapsed position.

FIGURE 5 is a reduced plan view illustrating the receptacle blank of this invention for forming the receptacle of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 5 illustrating another receptacle blank of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation view of the collapsible receptacle formed from the blank of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of the receptacle of FIGURE 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adaptable for forming a collapsible receptacle or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this inven- BJ l LWZ Patented Aug. I8, 196% tion can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other constructions as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-4, one of the improved collapsible receptacles of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral Jill and comprises a pair of opposed side walls 11 and 12 and a pair of opposed end walls 13 and it cooperating together to define an open end 15 of the receptacle 10 to receive a plurality of folded napkins 16 whereby the receptacle It) holds the napkins to above a supporting surface with the napkins 16 being readily accessible for subsequent dispensing therefrom.

While the receptacle it) can be formed in any suitable manner to have the various features of this invention, the receptacle lt'l illustrated in FIGURES l4 can be formed from an improved receptacle blank of this invention that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 17 in FiGURE 5.

The receptacle blank 17 comprises a substantially rectangular structure suitably cut and scored by conventional apparatus to define a series of foldably connected walls or panels it'll, 14, 1?. and 13, the side wall 11 and the end wall 14 being foldably interconnected together by a score or fold line til, the end wall 14 and the side wall 12 being foldably interconnected together by a score or fold line 19, and the side wall 12 and the end wall 13 being foldably interconnected together by a score or fold line fill.

An interconnecting flap 21 is foldably connected to the free side edge of the side wall Ill by a score or fold line 22, the interconnecting fiap 21 being adapted to be secured by a suitable adhesive to either the inside or out side surface of the end wall 13 to interconnect together the series of walls 11, 14-, 12 and 13 in a manner well known in the art and form the same into substantially rectangular box-like structure.

A pair of like tab means 23 and 24 are respectively, foldably interconnected to the bottom edges of the end walls 14 and 13 at score or fold lines 235, each tab means 23 or 2 having a central projection 26 extending beyond a free edge 2'7 of the respective tab means 2.3 or 24 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A pair of like bottom wall members 225 and 29 are respectively foldabiy connected to intermediate portions of the bottom edges of the side walls 11 and 12 at score or fold lines 3t? and El, each bottom wall member 28 and 25 being separated from end portions 32 of the bottom edges of the side walls Ill and 12 as well as from the remaining portions 33 of the bottom edges of the side walls Ill and 12 by suitable die cuts.

In this manner, it can be seen that the end portions 32 of the bottom edges of the side walls 11 and 1.2 are disposed in the same plane as the bottom edges 25 of the end walls 1.? and it for a purpose hereinafter described, the score or fold lines 3b and 31 of the bottom edges of side walls It and being disposed inboard and above the bottom edges 2d of the end walls 13 and 14.

Each bottom wall member 28 and 29 has the outboard corners thereof cut away at 31 i to define substantially rectangular openings utilized in a manner hereinafter described.

Each end wall I3 and 14 and its respective interconnected tab means and 23 is medially foldable by having a transversely disposed score or fold line 35 for a purpose hereinafter described.

While the receptacle blank 17 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material in any suitable manner, one embodiment of the receptacle blank i7 illustrated in the drawings is formed from cardboard or the like having a sheet of metallic foil, such as aluminum containing metallic foil or the like, laminated to the exterior surface thereof to provide decorative means for the exposed surfaces of the subsequently formed receptacle ill, the foil being plain, embossed or imprinted to provide the desired effect.

After the receptacle blank 17 has been formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, the blank 17 can be formed into the receptacle it) by interconnecting the flap 21 to the inside surface of the end wall 13 by suitable adhesive or the like.

Thereafter, the receptacle it? can be disposed in its fiat, compact position as partially illustrated in FIGURE 4 by folding the end walls 13 and 1d and their interconnected tab means 24 and 23 along the fold lines in the manner illustrated in FlGURE 4 to bring the side walls 11 and 12 adjacent each other with the end Walls 13 and 14 disposed therebetween whereby the completed receptacle is disposed in a hat, compact condition.

Preferably, the receptacle manufacturer supplies the receptacles It in their flat, compact condition to the napkin manufacturer whereby the napkin manufacturer assembles each collapsed receptacle ltl against one side of a bundle of folded napkins 316 and encases the same in a suitable transparent overwrap, such as cellophane or the like, whereby the completed package construction can be merchandised in a conventional manner.

Preferably, the collapsed receptacle it has an overall size substantially equal to the size of the folded napkins 16 whereby the receptacle 10 rigidifies the package construction.

Thus, the receptacle manufacturer and the napkin manufacturer need never handle the receptacles ill) in their article-carrying positions because the same can be made in the fiat tubular form illustrated in FIGURE 4 without ever erecting the receptacles 1d.

The ultimate consumer takes the package construction containing the folded napkins 16 and the collapsed receptacle ll) and opens the same by removing the over- Wrap therefrom when desired.

Thereafter, the ultimate consumer moves the receptacle flll to its article carrying position by unfolding the end walls 13 and 14 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 1 and subsequently folding the bottom wall members 28 and 29 inwardly into a common plane, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, whereby the cutaway portions 34- of the bottom wall members 23 and 29 cooperate together to define slot means 36 therebetween.

Subsequently, the ultimate consumer folds the tab means 23 and 24 on the score or fold lines 25 toward the bottom wall members 23 and 29, whereby the projections 26 thereof can be inserted in the slot means 36.

In this manner, the tab means 23 and 24 hold the receptacle 1th in its article-carrying position, with the bottom wall members 28 and 29 resting on the free edges 27 of the tab means 23 and 24.

The bundle of folded napkins 16 are then placed in the opened end of the erected receptacle lid in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, whereby the napkins 16 rest on the bottom wall members 23 and 29 and are fully supported above a supporting surface receiving the receptacle in its upright position, the bottom edges of the end walls 13 and M and the end portions 32 of the side walls 11 and 12 resting on the supporting structure and providing leg means holding the napkins 16 above the supporting structure.

In this manner, the receptacle 10 can provide an attractive means for dispensing the napkins lid on a serving table or the like and the napkins 16 are held a sufficient distance above the table or the like so that if a glass of liquid or the like is accidentally spilled on the dining table the napkins 16 will not be damaged thereby, as the same are held above the supporting structure by the bottom wall members 28 and 29.

After the napkins 15 have been dispensed from the receptacle It), the receptacle It] can be utilized to hold other napkins or can be utilized for other purposes, as desired.

For example, the attractive receptacle it) of this inven tion can be utilized as a planter, index file card holder, and the like.

Further, the receptacle 16) provides suitable means for storing the napkins 16 when the same are not being utilized on a dining table or the like.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved collapsible receptacle for forming a napkin dispenser or the like, the collapsible receptacle being formed from an improved receptacle blank of this invention.

It should be noted that the leg structure of the side walls 11 and 12 of receptacle 1d of this invention can be varied as desired by merely varying the configuration of the remaining portions 33 of the bottom edges of the side walls ill and 12.

For example, the remaining portions 33 of the bottom edges of the side walls 11 and 12 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5 are substantially arcuate, Whereas the same can be formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 by merely having the remaining portions 33 of the bottom edges of the side walls 11 and 12 angularly disposed and forming straight lines, as illustrated in the receptacle blank in FIGURE 6.

Thus, the various leg structures of the side walls 11 and 12. of the receptacles of this invention can have any desired configuration and still completely hide the tab means 23 and 24. 7

Therefore, it can be seen that various receptacles of means against each other to collapse said receptacle, bot' tom wall means interconnected to said side wall means to close the bottom of said receptacle, said bottom wall means comprising two bottom wall members separate from each other and tab means carried by said end wall means and being interlocked to said bottom wall means to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position.

2. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls, said end walls being medially foldable to bring said side walls against each other to collapse said receptacle, a pair of separate bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said side walls and defining slot means therebetween when said bottom wall members are moved into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, and tab mean respectively carried by said end walls and having edges engaging said bottom wall members to hold said bottom wall members in said plane, said tab means having portions thereof disposed in said slot means to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position.

3. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls, said end walls being medially foldable to bring said side walls against each other to collapse said receptacle, a pair of separate bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said side walls and defining slot means thcrebetween when said bottom wall members are moved into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, and tab means respectively carriedby said end walls and insertable into said slot means to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position.

4. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls provided with bottom edges and being medially foldable to collapse said receptacle, a pair of opposed side walls provided with bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls respectively having portions thereof disposed above said bottom edges of said end walls, a pair of separate bottom Wall members respectively interconnected to said portions of said bottom edges of said side Walls and movable into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, and tab means carried by said end walls and interlocked to said bottom Wall members to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position.

5. A collapsible receptacle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tab means are respectively interconnected to said bottom edges of said end walls.

6. A collapsible receptacle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tab means are medially foldable.

7. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls provided with bottom edges and being medially foldable to collapse said receptacle, a pair of opposed side walls provided with bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls respectively having intermediate portions thereof disposed above said bottom edges of said end Walls and having end portions disposed in the same plane as said bottom edges of said end walls and joined to the adjacent intermediate portions by the remaining portions thereof, a pair of separate bottom wall members respec tively interconnected to said intermediate portions of said bottom edges of said side walls and movable into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, and tab means carried by said end Walls and interconnected to said bottom wall members to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position.

8. A collapsible receptacle as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tab means are hidden behind said side walls when said receptacle is in article-carrying position.

9. A blank for forming a receptacle and being suitably cut and scored to define a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls respectively having bottom edges, a pair of separate bottom Wall members respectively interconnected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said bottom wall members when folded in the same plane to form said receptacle defining slot means therebetween, and a pair of tab means respectively interconnected to said bottom edge of said end walls, said tab means having portions thereof receivable in said slot means to hold the receptacle in its article-carrying position.

10. A blank as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end walls and said side walls are interconnected together in a series.

11. A blank as set forth in claim 9 wherein one of said walls has a free side edge, and an interconnecting flap is interconnected to said free side edge.

12. A blank as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end Walls and said tab means are medially foldable.

13. A blank for forming a receptacle and being suitably cut and scored to define a pair of side Walls and a pair of end walls respectively having bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls respectively having portions thereof disposed inboard of said bottom edges of said end walls, and a pair of separate bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said inboard portions of said bottom edges of said side Walls.

14. A blank for forming a receptacle and being suitably cut and scored to define a pair of side Walls and a pair of end Walls respectively having bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls having intermediate portions thereof disposed inboard of said bottom edges of said end walls and having end portions disposed in the same plane as said bottom edges of said end walls and interconnected to said intermediate portions by the remaining portions thereof, a pair of bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said intermediate portions of said bottom edges of said side walls, and a pair of tab means respectively interconnected to said bottom edges of said end walls.

15. A blank as set forth in claim 14 wherein the outboard corners of said bottom wall members are cut away.

16. A blank as set forth in claim 14-, wherein said tab means respectively have interlocking portions extending from the free edges thereof.

17. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls provided with bottom edges and being medially foldable to collapse said receptacle, a pair of opposed side Walls provided with bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side Walls respectively having portions thereof disposed above said bottom edges of said end walls, a pair of bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said portions of said bottom edges of said side walls and movable into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, said bottom wall members defining slot means when disposed in said plane, and tab means carried by said end Walls and interconnected to said bottom wall members to hold said receptacle in article-carrying position by having portions thereof disposed in said slot means.

18. A collapsible receptacle having a pair of opposed end walls provided with bottom edges and being medially foldable to collapse said receptacle, a pair of opposed side walls provided with bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls respectively having intermediate portions thereof disposed above said bottom edges of said end walls and having end portions disposed in the same plane as said bottom edges of said end walls and joined to the adjacent intermediate portions by the remaining portions thereof, a pair of bottom Wall members respectively interconnected to said intermediate portions of said bottom edges of said side walls and movable into the same plane to close the bottom of said receptacle, said bottom wall members defining slot means when said bottom Wall members are disposed in the same plane, and tab means carried by said end walls and interconnected to said bottom wall members to hold said receptacle in article carrying position by having portions thereof disposed in said slot means.

19. A blank for forming a receptacle and being suitably cut and scored to define a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls respectively having bottom edges, said bottom edges of said side walls respectively having portions thereof disposed inboard of said bottom edges of said end walls, a pair of bottom wall members respectively interconnected to said inboard portions of said bottom edges of said side Walls, and a pair of tab means respectively interconnected to said bottom edges of said end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,364 Myers Sept. 6, 1898 1,174,364 Stempel Mar. 7, 1916 2,907,510 Vines Oct. 6, 1959 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED END WALL MEANS AND A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALL MEANS, SAID END WALL MEANS BEING FOLDABLE TO BRING SAID SIDE WALL MEANS AGAINST EACH OTHER TO COLLAPSE SAID RECEPTACLE, BOTTOM WALL MEANS INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SIDE WALL MEANS TO CLOSE THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID BOTTOM WALL MEANS COMPRISING TWO BOTTOM WALL MEMBERS SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER AND TAB MEANS CARRIED BY SAID END WALL MEANS AND BEING INTERLOCKED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL MEANS TO HOLD SAID RECEPTACLE IN ARTICLE-CARRYING POSITION. 